Newcastle Complete Record £35m Joelinton Transfer

NEWCASTLE have smashed their transfer record to land Brazilian striker Joelinton for £35m from German club Hoffenheim.

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The 22-year-old South American becomes Steve Bruce’s first signing since becoming Toon boss with the prospect of at least another two arrivals this week.

The Geordies remain keen on Nice winger Allan Saint-Maximin and could re-sign Rangers right back James Tavernier, who was on Tyneside as a youngster.

With Manchester United still tracking Sean Longstaff, Bruce would also like to bring in a midfielder though the need would be less urgent if he can persuade Isaac Hayden to commit his future to the club.

Joelinton is due to make his debut in Saturday’s friendly at Preston.

He has been on Newcastle’s radar for several months but Bruce’s predecessor Rafa Benitez was reluctant to meet Hoffenheim’s valuation.

However, with Magpies’ head of recruitment Steve Nickson pushing hard to get the deal done, the new manager took little persuading to sanction the move.

Hoffenheim is set to wear the No. 9 shirt vacated by Rondon, the man Benitez wanted to carry on leading the Toon attack had he stayed.

“Newcastle have now broken the club transfer record twice this year”

Newcastle have now broken the club transfer record twice this year.

Before Miguel Almiron joined from MLS outfit Atlanta United for £21m in January, the £16.8m they paid Real Madrid for Michael Owen in August 2005 had stood for an embarrassing 14 years as the most they had splashed out for a player.

Yet the swoop for Joelinton – and the prospect of further signings in the next week – is unlikely to appease a significant section of the Toon fanbase, still angry at the club’s failure to hang on to Rafa Benitez and the fading prospect of a takeover.